Manhattan Beach

Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and World War II, Jennifer Egan's "Manhattan Beach" introduces Anna Kerrigan, a young girl whose life takes an unexpected turn after her father, Eddie, a small-time fixer for the Irish mob, mysteriously vanishes. Years later, as America enters the war, Anna works at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, breaking barriers as one of the first female divers in a dangerous, male-dominated profession, repairing vital ships. Supporting her mother and disabled sister, Anna's path crosses again with Dexter Styles, a charismatic and enigmatic gangster her father once worked for. This reunion compels Anna to unravel the truth behind her father's disappearance, delving into the murky world of organized crime, the merchant marine, and the profound shifts in society during wartime. The novel is a sweeping narrative that explores themes of family, independence, and the transformative power of women in a changing world, all with the atmosphere of a noir thriller.